Livonia, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods (most of which were built in the 1950s
and 1960s
) connected to the metropolitan area by freeways
. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest municipality. The municipality is a part of Metro Detroit
, and located approximately 13 miles (21 km) northwest from downtown Detroit, and less than two miles (3 km) from the western city limits of Detroit (Redford Township
lies in between the two).
and New York
, an act by the Legislature
of the Territory of Michigan established the borders of Livonia Township on March 17, 1835. The settlers brought with them the name "Livonia", a name that had already been given to Livonia, New York
, Livonia, Pennsylvania and a region of the Baltic Sea named Livonia
in present day Estonia
and Latvia
, from which many early settlers came.
Livonia was incorporated into a city on May 23, 1950, by vote of the citizens of the township
. A significant motivation was to gain tax revenues from the DRC (Detroit Race Course), which was Michigan's only thoroughbred horse race
track that closed in 1998.
Livonia has been visited by six U.S. presidents: Richard Nixon
, Gerald Ford
, Ronald Reagan
, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton
, and George W. Bush
.
, an upscale fashion mall with 74 stores, is located at 6 Mile Road and Newburgh Road. Parisian
and Von Maur
department stores serve as anchors. Livonia has a number of shopping centers, including two Wal-Mart
Supercenters, two Target
stores, one Meijer
store, two Costco
stores, and many other smaller stores. Wonderland Village
features a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a Target store, and three islands of retail buildings along Plymouth Road and Middlebelt Road. Sears and Walmart anchor the Livonia Marketplace.
Livonia is home to the Livonia Hockey Association
, the largest amateur hockey association in Michigan, Home of two time state champions the Livonia Kings, and the city also boasts one of the largest soccer progams (Livonia City Soccer Club) in the state, with 1,300 participants.
and Schoolcraft College
, a small University of Phoenix
campus, and a Continuing Education Center of Eastern Michigan University
. The most recent university to open in Livonia is a Davenport University
campus, which opened on September 26, 2008.
District, consisting of two Early Childhood Centers, 13 elementary schools, four Upper Elementary Schools, three middle schools, three high schools, and one Career Center. Since the 1960s, the district has consistently been ranked in the top 5 school districts statewide. The district also serves students in portions of Westland. There is, however, a portion of northeast Livonia that is served by the Clarenceville School District
.
There are currently five high schools in Livonia, four of which are public: Franklin
, Churchill
, and Stevenson
High Schools in the Livonia district. Bentley High School
, the first high school built in the district, was closed in 1985. Clarenceville High School in the Clarenceville Public School District
, and one private: Ladywood High School, a Catholic all-girls school run by the Felician Sisters
.
Each Livonia Public Schools high school offers a different educational program. Stevenson High School
is the home of the school of Global Education, an alternative education model which combines students' English and Social Studies classes with a focus on the student's role in the world. Churchill houses the MSC program, (Math, Science, and Computers). Franklin currently offers an International Baccalaureate program for select students.
Frost Middle School houses the Middle Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (MACAT) program. The public K-6 Webster Elementary School is home to the Alternative Classes for the Academically Talented (ACAT) program, as well as many afterschool programs. Webster has classess for disabled children as well. The school, however, was burned down by an arsonist, and Webster was moved to a closed-down school, Tyler Elementary.
There are a number of parochial grade schools attached to Catholic and Lutheran churches around Livonia, including:
, the city has a total area of 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.33%) is water.
, and is represented in Congress by Thaddeus McCotter (Republican), who was first elected to Congress in 2002. Livonia's mayor is Jack Kirksey. On November 6, 2007, Livonia's mayoral election took place between Jack Kirksey and Maureen Miller Brosnan, with Kirksey the winner.
Livonia is Michigan's 6th State Senate District, and is represented by Glenn S. Anderson (Democrat), who was elected to the State Legislature in 2006.
Livonia is Michigan's 19th State House District, and is represented by incumbent John R. Walsh (Republican), who is in his first term.
of 2000, there were 100,545 people, 38,089 households, and 28,071 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,815.0 per square mile (1,086.8/km²). There were 38,658 housing units at an average density of 1,082.3 per square mile (417.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.45% White, 0.95% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population. 16.3% were of Polish
, 15.9% German
, 11.2% Irish
, 8.6% Italian and 8.5% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 38,089 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% was from 25 to 44, 24.3% was from 45 to 64, and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
According to a 2010 American Community Survey
, the median income for a household in the city was $65,391, and the median income for a family was $77,119. Males had a median income of $62,071 versus $42,083 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,536. About 5.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods (most of which were built in the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
) connected to the metropolitan area by freeways
Roads and freeways in metropolitan Detroit
The Roads and freeways in metropolitan Detroit comprise the main thoroughfares in the region. The freeways consist of an advanced network of interconnecting freeways which include Interstate highways. The Metro Detroit region's extensive toll-free expressway system, together with its status as a...
. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest municipality. The municipality is a part of Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
, and located approximately 13 miles (21 km) northwest from downtown Detroit, and less than two miles (3 km) from the western city limits of Detroit (Redford Township
Redford Township, Michigan
The U.S. Census Bureau also defined Redford Township as a census-designated place in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places as well on the list of county subdivisions...
lies in between the two).
History
First settled by pioneers from New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, an act by the Legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
of the Territory of Michigan established the borders of Livonia Township on March 17, 1835. The settlers brought with them the name "Livonia", a name that had already been given to Livonia, New York
Livonia, New York
Livonia, New York refers to two locations in Livingston County, New York:*Livonia , New York*Livonia , New York, within the Town of Livonia...
, Livonia, Pennsylvania and a region of the Baltic Sea named Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
in present day Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, from which many early settlers came.
Livonia was incorporated into a city on May 23, 1950, by vote of the citizens of the township
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
. A significant motivation was to gain tax revenues from the DRC (Detroit Race Course), which was Michigan's only thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
track that closed in 1998.
Livonia has been visited by six U.S. presidents: Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, and George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Economy
In addition to its schools, colleges, churches, parks, recreation center, libraries, and St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia also has commercial and industrial sectors, restaurants, and shopping. Laurel Park PlaceLaurel Park Place
Laurel Park Place is an enclosed upscale shopping mall located in the city of Livonia, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The mall, which is managed by CBL & Associates Properties, features over 70 restaurants and stores, with Parisian and Von Maur as anchor stores...
, an upscale fashion mall with 74 stores, is located at 6 Mile Road and Newburgh Road. Parisian
Parisian (Bon-Ton)
Parisian is a specialty department store chain in Metro Detroit, operating in three suburban locations in Livonia, Rochester Hills, and Clinton Township. Bon-Ton Stores, Inc...
and Von Maur
Von Maur
Von Maur is an mid-range specialty department store chain with stores located in the Midwestern United States and newly expansion stores in the Southern United States. The chain, based in Davenport, Iowa, sells mid-priced brand-name apparel, accessories, cosmetics, gifts, jewelry and shoes. As of...
department stores serve as anchors. Livonia has a number of shopping centers, including two Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
Supercenters, two Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
stores, one Meijer
Meijer
Meijer, Inc. is a regional American hypermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 196 stores are located in Michigan, with additional locations in...
store, two Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
stores, and many other smaller stores. Wonderland Village
Wonderland Village
Wonderland Village is an outdoor shopping center in Livonia, Michigan, United States, a suburb of Detroit. The center is located at the southwest corner of Middlebelt Road and Plymouth Road, approximately one mile south of I-96. Wal-Mart and Target are the complex's anchor stores.-History:From 1959...
features a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a Target store, and three islands of retail buildings along Plymouth Road and Middlebelt Road. Sears and Walmart anchor the Livonia Marketplace.
Livonia is home to the Livonia Hockey Association
Livonia Hockey Association
Livonia Hockey Association is an amateur hockey league located in Livonia, MI. It is a part of Michigan Amateur Hockey Association and resides with MAHA’s district four. The LHA is the largest amateur hockey association in Michigan. According to LHA bylaws 75% of the program must be Livonia...
, the largest amateur hockey association in Michigan, Home of two time state champions the Livonia Kings, and the city also boasts one of the largest soccer progams (Livonia City Soccer Club) in the state, with 1,300 participants.
Major employers
- Awrey Bakeries
- Comerica BankComericaComerica Incorporated is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA. It has retail banking operations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas; and select business operations in several other U.S...
- Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
- General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
- The Harvard Drug Group
- Livonia Public SchoolsLivonia Public SchoolsLivonia Public Schools is a public school district in southeastern Michigan Metro Detroit area, serving most of the city of Livonia and the northernmost portions of Westland. It is one of the top 5 ranked school districts in Michigan, as it has been since the 1960s...
- Madonna UniversityMadonna UniversityMadonna University is a private, non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Detroit. Conducted by the Felician Sisters, it has extension campuses in Southwest Detroit, Orchard Lake, Michigan Madonna University is a private,...
- McKesson Pharmaceuticals
- NYX, Inc.
- Roush Industries
- Schoolcraft CollegeSchoolcraft CollegeSchoolcraft College is a two-year community college located in Livonia, Michigan with a satellite campus in Garden City, Michigan. Schoolcraft College was established in 1961. Originally named Northwest Wayne County Community College, the name of the college was changed because of the length...
- Sears, Roebuck & Co.
- St. Mary Mercy Hospital
- Technicolor Video Services
- Tower International
- TRW AutomotiveTRW AutomotiveTRW Automotive , headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, is a major global supplier of automotive systems, modules and components to automotive original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets....
- United Parcel ServiceUnited Parcel ServiceUnited Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
- Valassis
Colleges and universities
Livonia is home to various private/public colleges & universities, including Madonna UniversityMadonna University
Madonna University is a private, non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Detroit. Conducted by the Felician Sisters, it has extension campuses in Southwest Detroit, Orchard Lake, Michigan Madonna University is a private,...
and Schoolcraft College
Schoolcraft College
Schoolcraft College is a two-year community college located in Livonia, Michigan with a satellite campus in Garden City, Michigan. Schoolcraft College was established in 1961. Originally named Northwest Wayne County Community College, the name of the college was changed because of the length...
, a small University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
campus, and a Continuing Education Center of Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
. The most recent university to open in Livonia is a Davenport University
Davenport University
Davenport University is a private, non-profit, multi-location university located at 14 campuses throughout Michigan and online. It was founded in 1866 by Conrad Swensburg and currently offers Master's Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Associate's Degrees, diplomas, and post-grad certification programs...
campus, which opened on September 26, 2008.
- Madonna UniversityMadonna UniversityMadonna University is a private, non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Detroit. Conducted by the Felician Sisters, it has extension campuses in Southwest Detroit, Orchard Lake, Michigan Madonna University is a private,...
- Schoolcraft Community College
- University of PhoenixUniversity of PhoenixThe University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
Primary and secondary schools
Most of the City of Livonia is served by the Livonia Public SchoolsLivonia Public Schools
Livonia Public Schools is a public school district in southeastern Michigan Metro Detroit area, serving most of the city of Livonia and the northernmost portions of Westland. It is one of the top 5 ranked school districts in Michigan, as it has been since the 1960s...
District, consisting of two Early Childhood Centers, 13 elementary schools, four Upper Elementary Schools, three middle schools, three high schools, and one Career Center. Since the 1960s, the district has consistently been ranked in the top 5 school districts statewide. The district also serves students in portions of Westland. There is, however, a portion of northeast Livonia that is served by the Clarenceville School District
Clarenceville School District
-Overview:All of the buildings have received the highest level of accreditation provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as adequate yearly progress....
.
There are currently five high schools in Livonia, four of which are public: Franklin
Franklin High School (Livonia, Michigan)
Benjamin Franklin High School, also referred to as Franklin High School, Livonia Franklin and FHS, is a public high school located in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb west of Detroit.-History:...
, Churchill
Winston Churchill High School (Wayne County, Michigan)
Churchill High School, named after Winston Churchill, is one of the three main public high schools in the city of Livonia, Michigan, a western suburb of Detroit. The school was created in 1968 as an add-on to the other high schools in Livonia in response to the population boom that the city saw...
, and Stevenson
Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Livonia, Michigan)
Adlai E. Stevenson High School is a public high school in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb west of Detroit.-History:Adlai E. Stevenson High School was built in 1965 to accommodate the rising population in Livonia due to the increased migration of people from the nearby city of Detroit to the suburbs...
High Schools in the Livonia district. Bentley High School
Bentley High School (Livonia, Michigan)
George N. Bentley Senior High School, also referred to as Bentley High School, was a public high school in the city of Livonia, Michigan, a western suburb of Detroit. The first public high school in the Livonia Public Schools district, it was open from September 1947 through June 1985. The...
, the first high school built in the district, was closed in 1985. Clarenceville High School in the Clarenceville Public School District
Clarenceville School District
-Overview:All of the buildings have received the highest level of accreditation provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as adequate yearly progress....
, and one private: Ladywood High School, a Catholic all-girls school run by the Felician Sisters
Felician Sisters
The Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, or Felician Sisters, are one branch of the Third Order of St. Francis. The active-contemplative order was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in 1855, by Sophia Truszkowska, and named for a shrine of St. Felix, a 16th century Franciscan saint especially devoted to...
.
Each Livonia Public Schools high school offers a different educational program. Stevenson High School
Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Livonia, Michigan)
Adlai E. Stevenson High School is a public high school in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb west of Detroit.-History:Adlai E. Stevenson High School was built in 1965 to accommodate the rising population in Livonia due to the increased migration of people from the nearby city of Detroit to the suburbs...
is the home of the school of Global Education, an alternative education model which combines students' English and Social Studies classes with a focus on the student's role in the world. Churchill houses the MSC program, (Math, Science, and Computers). Franklin currently offers an International Baccalaureate program for select students.
Frost Middle School houses the Middle Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (MACAT) program. The public K-6 Webster Elementary School is home to the Alternative Classes for the Academically Talented (ACAT) program, as well as many afterschool programs. Webster has classess for disabled children as well. The school, however, was burned down by an arsonist, and Webster was moved to a closed-down school, Tyler Elementary.
- Clarenceville School DistrictClarenceville School District-Overview:All of the buildings have received the highest level of accreditation provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as adequate yearly progress....
http://www.clarenceville.k12.mi.us/ - Livonia Public SchoolsLivonia Public SchoolsLivonia Public Schools is a public school district in southeastern Michigan Metro Detroit area, serving most of the city of Livonia and the northernmost portions of Westland. It is one of the top 5 ranked school districts in Michigan, as it has been since the 1960s...
http://www.livonia.k12.mi.us/ (LPSLivonia Public SchoolsLivonia Public Schools is a public school district in southeastern Michigan Metro Detroit area, serving most of the city of Livonia and the northernmost portions of Westland. It is one of the top 5 ranked school districts in Michigan, as it has been since the 1960s...
also serves parts of WestlandWestland, MichiganWestland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...
.) - Academy of Westland Charter Schools (In Westland, but serving Livonia) http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_district/85/mi/
- Warren Dale Charter Academy (In Detroit, but serving Livonia) http://www.heritageacademies.com/Brix?pageID=407
- CAPA, a performance art program at Churchill high school http://www.starringcapa.com
- MSC (Math, Science, Computers) a program for the academically gifted housed at Churchill High School
There are a number of parochial grade schools attached to Catholic and Lutheran churches around Livonia, including:
- Ladywood High SchoolLadywood High SchoolLadywood High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Livonia, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.-Background:Ladywood was established in 1950 by the Felician Sisters....
- St. Edith, St. Genevieve and St. Michael Catholic grade schools
Public libraries
The Livonia Public Library includes the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and the Vest Pocket Library.Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.33%) is water.
Politics
Livonia is located in Michigan's 11th congressional districtMichigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located just northwest of Detroit, consisting of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties...
, and is represented in Congress by Thaddeus McCotter (Republican), who was first elected to Congress in 2002. Livonia's mayor is Jack Kirksey. On November 6, 2007, Livonia's mayoral election took place between Jack Kirksey and Maureen Miller Brosnan, with Kirksey the winner.
Livonia is Michigan's 6th State Senate District, and is represented by Glenn S. Anderson (Democrat), who was elected to the State Legislature in 2006.
Livonia is Michigan's 19th State House District, and is represented by incumbent John R. Walsh (Republican), who is in his first term.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 100,545 people, 38,089 households, and 28,071 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,815.0 per square mile (1,086.8/km²). There were 38,658 housing units at an average density of 1,082.3 per square mile (417.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.45% White, 0.95% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population. 16.3% were of Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, 15.9% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 11.2% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 8.6% Italian and 8.5% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 38,089 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% was from 25 to 44, 24.3% was from 45 to 64, and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
According to a 2010 American Community Survey
American Community Survey
The American Community Survey is an ongoing statistical survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, sent to approximately 250,000 addresses monthly . It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census...
, the median income for a household in the city was $65,391, and the median income for a family was $77,119. Males had a median income of $62,071 versus $42,083 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $29,536. About 5.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Shaffee Abraham, Morning Show Host for WKLS Atlanta and Announcer for Atlanta ThrashersAtlanta ThrashersThe Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
- Joseph A. Adam, Scientist of Medicine, Creater of Xanax
- Chuck BehlerChuck BehlerChuck Behler is an American drummer. Behler played drums for the heavy metal band Megadeth from 1987 through 1989, recording the album So Far, So Good… So What! with the group in 1988...
(Musician) Drummer for MegadethMegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
1987-1989 - Patrick Carden, lead guitarist for Big Mess rock band.
- Warren DefeverWarren DefeverWarren Defever is a musician and producer from Livonia, Michigan. He is most known for his chameleonic project His Name Is Alive, though he is active in numerous other circles...
, Musician and Producer - Mike DonnellyMike DonnellyMichael Chene Donnelly is a former ice hockey left wing. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, and New York Islanders....
, Retired NHL Player - Derek GrantDerek GrantDerek Grant is the drummer for punk band Alkaline Trio, where he replaced Mike Felumlee. He was previously a member of The Suicide Machines, Telegraph, Gyga, Thoughts of Ionesco, Remainder, Walls of Jericho, The Exceptions and Broken Spoke, a side band with Royce Nunley and Jay Navarro...
, Drummer for Alkaline Trio, and previously The Suicide Machines, Telegraph, and Face To Face, all notable punk rock bands - Judy GreerJudy GreerJudy Greer is an American actress, known for portraying a string of supporting female characters, including Kitty Sanchez on the Fox series Arrested Development and Cheryl on the animated comedy series Archer...
, Actress - Charlie HaegerCharlie HaegerCharles Wallis Haeger is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization in Major League Baseball.-High school:...
, Professional Baseball Player for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... - Brian M.Hatfield, Music DirectorMusic directorA music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and Afternoon Personality for WKSFWKSFWKSF is a country music station licensed to Old Fort, North Carolina. The Clear Channel station broadcasts from a tower on Mount Pisgah, southwest of Asheville at 99.9 FM with an ERP of 48 kW, and a 6 bay antenna...
in Asheville, NC - Jay Hudson, 89X CIMX-FMCIMX-FMCIMX-FM — branded 89X — is a commercial active-leaning alternative rock radio station based in Windsor, Ontario. 89X serves both Essex County, Ontario and Metro Detroit; its 100,000-watt signal reaches most of southwestern Ontario, southeastern Michigan, the Toledo metro area and the western Lake...
Radio PersonalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
Music DirectorMusic directorA music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head... - Jeff LergJeff LergJeff Lerg is a goaltender who recently played for the Michigan State Spartans of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. He is the cousin of former teammate Bryan Lerg. He was the shortest player in Collegiate hockey during his college career...
, Professional Hockey Player for the New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Ryan KeslerRyan KeslerRyan James Kesler is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has...
, Professional Hockey Player for the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... - Mike ModanoMike ModanoMichael Thomas Modano, Jr. is a retired American professional ice hockey player, who most notably played for the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise. He is the all-time goal-scoring and points leader amongst American-born players in the NHL, as well as the last active player in the NHL...
, Retired NHL Player - David Moss, Professional Hockey Player for the Calgary FlamesCalgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
- Aaron PalushajAaron PalushajAaron Palushaj is an American professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Professional Hockey Player for the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... - Dana SchutzDana SchutzDana Schutz is a painter in New York.She graduated with a BFA the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2000 and an MFA from Columbia University in 2002. She grew up in Livonia, Michigan a suburb of Detroit and graduated in 1995 from Adlai E...
, Painter - Chris TancillChris TancillChristopher William Tancill is a retired professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the 1989 NHL Supplemental Draft....
, Retired NHL Player - Sheila TaorminaSheila TaorminaSheila Taormina is an Olympic athlete from the United States, who has competed at 4 Olympics and was the first woman to qualify for the Olympics in 3 different sports...
, 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, Atlanta, GA. Gold Medal winner swimming in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relayRelay raceDuring a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
. Four time Olympic athlete 1996, 20002000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, 20042004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, and 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
), and first woman to qualify in three different Olympic sports events (freestyleFreestyle swimmingFreestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
swimming, triathlonTriathlonA triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
and modern pentathlonModern pentathlonThe modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
.) - Patrick Tullio, 106.7 The Beat WDTW-FMWDTW-FMWDTW-FM is a classic rock formatted radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. WDTW-FM is licensed for HD Radio operations; its secondary channel carries Clear Channel's "Pride Radio" format, which features music geared toward the LGBT audience...
Radio PersonalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,... - Jonathan B. WrightJonathan B. WrightJonathan Bradford Wright is an American actor who is best known for his performance as Hanschen, in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening.-Life and career:...
, Stage and film actor